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Code of Silence #2
By Tim Shoemaker Back Before Dark: Sometimes rescuing a friend from darkness ... means going in after them (A Code of [Hardcover]
Excellent Book
Hardcover
First published March 19, 2013
68 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
Tim Shoemaker
35 books89 followersTim Shoemaker is a speaker and author of eight books, including Dangerous Devotions for Guys; Smashed Tomatoes, Bottle Rockets, and Other Outdoor Devotionals; and Mashed Potatoes, Paint Balls, and Other Indoor/Outdoor Devotionals. He has three grown sons and has been happily married for over 32 years. His debut into the juvenile fiction market draws from his experience with kids as a volunteer youth leader for more than sixteen years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
January 9, 2015
This book is about how a young boy named Gordy who is kidnapped by an unknown man. Throughout the story Gordy's cousin and friends take major risks in finding him. This story is really about how friendships are strong and you should do everything in your power to keep them. But sometimes risking everything comes at a price.I thought that this book was great. Throughout the book the author really keeps you thinking because at the end of each chapter there would be somewhat of a cliff hanger to keep you thinking and guessing what wight they do next. I also love how the author would have things going just great and then all the sudden tragedy strikes. I would recommend this book to readers who like a surprise and not knowing what happens next. Also for readers who like adventure.
March 2, 2013
Cooper, Gordy, and Hiro ride their bikes through the park one day and see a van with a backpack on the roof. Gordy gives chase to try and warn the driver and is abducted by a man with a taser. Cooper calls 911 right away, but he’s not positive he remembered the right license plate number. The hours and days tick by without word from the kidnapper. The police are doing everything they can. But so are Cooper, Hiro, and their friend Lunk. Hiro worries that Cooper and Lunk are taking things too far. But is there a “too far” where the life of a friend is concerned?
Tim Shoemaker has created a great group of characters. I loved them in his first book, Code of Silence, and I loved them even more in Back Before Dark. I felt the horror and fear through Cooper and Hiro at the loss of their best friend. And I cringed as Cooper tried to take matters into his own hands so many times. But I couldn’t stop reading. The story was a little long, but it held my interest until the end. And the author even included a special note in the back about how to keep yourself from being abducted and what to do if you are abducted. Some tips that every kid could benefit from hearing. A great book. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Tim Shoemaker has created a great group of characters. I loved them in his first book, Code of Silence, and I loved them even more in Back Before Dark. I felt the horror and fear through Cooper and Hiro at the loss of their best friend. And I cringed as Cooper tried to take matters into his own hands so many times. But I couldn’t stop reading. The story was a little long, but it held my interest until the end. And the author even included a special note in the back about how to keep yourself from being abducted and what to do if you are abducted. Some tips that every kid could benefit from hearing. A great book. Looking forward to the next in the series.
July 25, 2015
4.5 stars. So, this is one of the best books I've ever read. It starts out with Gordy being abducted. And everyone having no idea where he was taken. The kidnapper could have stayed local, or he could be 100's of miles away. So everyone is doing everything they can to find him, Coop and Lunk are idiots sometimes, but they're no closer to finding him than they were 72 hours ago. Then talk of a memorial service starts to surface. But Cooper still believes Gordy is alive... Or is he just fooling himself?
So I thought the book was really good, though it did seem longer than I personally think it should have been. The book seemed too long for just about a 72 hour period, but maybe that's just me.
So I thought the book was really good, though it did seem longer than I personally think it should have been. The book seemed too long for just about a 72 hour period, but maybe that's just me.
April 11, 2019
Loved it! It showed that Cooper and Gordy had a very strong friendship!
November 1, 2020
Amazingly written, this book could bring you close to tears one moment, then laughing your head off the next, I have read this novel about four times.
My favorite character, naturally, is Lunk. The main character is Cooper, who is friends with Hiro, his cousin Gordy, and Lunk. When Gordy gets kidnapped Coop is torn apart, but believes that his friend is still alive. Lunk and Hiro, however have different opinions about this. Hiro believes Gordy's dead and wants Cooper to stop searching to find his friend. Lunk also believes Gordy's dead, but is willing to do anything to help Cooper... until Cooper accepts his friends fate. This book was such a good read!
If you need a book to read, READ THIS BOOK.
And if you don't like it go pound salt or something.
This book is a series of three with, Code of Silence and Under the Surface (I have not read these yet).
These characters have an amazing sense of humor.
My favorite character, naturally, is Lunk. The main character is Cooper, who is friends with Hiro, his cousin Gordy, and Lunk. When Gordy gets kidnapped Coop is torn apart, but believes that his friend is still alive. Lunk and Hiro, however have different opinions about this. Hiro believes Gordy's dead and wants Cooper to stop searching to find his friend. Lunk also believes Gordy's dead, but is willing to do anything to help Cooper... until Cooper accepts his friends fate. This book was such a good read!
If you need a book to read, READ THIS BOOK.
And if you don't like it go pound salt or something.
This book is a series of three with, Code of Silence and Under the Surface (I have not read these yet).
These characters have an amazing sense of humor.
January 10, 2018
I loved this book, it is one of my favorite books iv'e read in a while. This book is about a group of friends, cousins Gordy and Cody, and their friends Lunk and Hiro. One night while riding on their bikes, Gordy is taken. Kidnapped. The group is told to let the police handle the situation but they ignore the rules and go on an adventure of a lifetime trying to find their best friend. The group uses teamwork together and helps bring the kidnapper to justice. I would recommend this book because it has adventure and is very thrilling, once you put it down, you want to pick it right back up. The theme of this book is friendship because they show that they will do whatever they can to help their friends.
December 31, 2017
This book has plenty of action. My students will love the danger and suspense. The situations the kids keep putting themselves in made me cringe but the decisions they made supported the character development in the story. I also like the strong female protagonist, Hiro. She was not afraid to speak her mind.
April 20, 2018
I took a gamble and got the three books ahead, and am glad that I did, this the second book and I truly enjoyed the thriller, especially that it caught me unaware of the real culprit this time, and I love the last few chapters when things get really heated up and the you are on edge...one more book to go..
July 22, 2019
I really loved this book it was one of the best books I’ve ever read, definitely a book worth re-reading. It’s my favourite out of all 3 because they have chapters of the kidnapper and what he’s doing and of Gordy well he’s in captivity.
March 25, 2017
4.7/5.0 http://aminoapps.com/p/31tifq read my full book review here:)
June 29, 2023
All I can say is... It's Awesome
December 5, 2016
In the Code of Silence series, Back Before Dark tells about an abduction. When Cooper and his friends were just hanging out at the park, he notices a van driving on the road. There was a backpack sticking out of the window, and Cooper and his friends wanted to help them. What they didn't realize was that the van was driving slowly, almost as if it was trying to lure them. Cooper and Gordy race to the van, but then Hiro sensed something was wrong and told them to stop. Cooper then realized what Hiro was trying to say, but Gordy was already at the vehicle. Suddenly, the ceiling of the car opened up and a guy with a taser zapped Gordy. He pulled Gordy inside and slammed the gas petal. Cooper was growing desperate to save his buddy, but the van was going too fast. He gave up, but he did look at the featured of the minivan: color silver, and liscense plate number CRM-9147. He then called the police, but in all his daze and guilt, he mixed up the license plate number. He kept thinking of it, being sure he got the right one. The police told him they were on the case, and Detective Hammer said that he got it covered. Soon, a manhunt began, but Cooper's and Gordy's parents soon grew desperate. They prayed every night in hopes that a ransom call came to them, but none. Cooper soon began to feel guilty that he couldn't help Gordy, and he takes the shocking news--hard. The school mourns for Gordy, and some kids even came to share their sympathy. Soon, the first day passed. The school security guard let Cooper post his posters of Gordy all over the school, and other people in town let him put the posters on their shop windows. Soon the manhunt turned national, and Cooper thought that everything was going to be fine. However, Hiro had a hunch that the burglar didn't try to escape Rolling Meadows; he stayed local. Cooper didn't believe her at first, but eventually it started to make sense. They tried to pull all kinds of crazy stunts trying to find Gordy without the police involved, such as breaking into abandoned houses or framing another criminal's house to disguise it as an excuse to let the police search his house. They didn't find Gordy, and the second day passed. On the third day, Cooper went to school, and saw a poster that reads: "Memorial Service: Gordy, the kid who got kid napped and was never found." Cooper knew that if a kid disappeared and didn't come back within three days, they are officially called dead, but he didn't want to believe it. Meanwhile, while they were searching, Gordy was put into a cell in a basement in a random old abandoned house he didn't know. He was given a ration, but he was trapped. Gordy was left to die there. There was a flood outside, the power was out, mice were everywhere, yes, it would be a very nice place to die for Gordy. Eventually, the third day passed... Hiro gave up, but Cooper had one last trick up his sleeve, one last stand, and one last risk that could probably claim his life. I will give you a hint, then a spoiler as the answer. The hint is, sometimes rescuing someone from the dark means going in on after them... Cooper went to the crime scene in the park where he last saw Gordy vanish, and this time, the criminal came for him. Cooper let himself get kidnapped. Hiro and Lunk both thought Cooper had gone mad and called the police. Soon an emergency manhunt exploded in Rolling Meadows, and the raging police, including detective Hammer, started a mission to start searching every SINGLE HOUSE......-in Rolling Meadows. As the tension and the pace grows, Cooper and Gordy start to become nervous. Will they ever find Gordy? If they do, would he be dead or alive? And what if.... there was truly a demon that kidnaps and feed on the kids' life, or could there be a traitor on the loose? Read it to find out! (Btw this is not click bait I'm dead serious) I loved reading this book because there was suspense everywhere I read. Not only was it intense reading it, but it was fast-paced, and even my heart started beating in some parts of the story! When you read this book, you will read all about loyalty and the fierce dedication of Cooper's life to Gordy. If you love to read mystery and suspense, I would recommend this book. If you loved Moving Target, you would love this book too! With that being said, I would also love to give a shoutout to the first book in the series, and the author too. I hope you would like to read this sometime in your life.
September 13, 2018
I was intrigued by the title, "Back Before Dark", is this some kind of book where there are monsters lurking in the dark, hunting kids for their dinner? Or creatures who specifically just show up in midnight to kill people, so the group of protagonist must be careful? I told myself, "if this was it, then I'll surely love it!".
But it wasn't.
Yet I loved it.
I remembered clearly on how I obediently finished all of the things I needed to do just to be free and have time to read this. A total page-turner! The suspense is sincere, the fear with excitement just rose into my chest like I was really there, one of the characters facing the problem.
I never read the first book but I am able to understand the glimpses of scenes where they reminisced on what happened. I was not confused by it, just pure curiosity enveloping me. It didn't changed the plot much but it actually affects the attitude of the character, which wasn't a problem since I already got to know each one of them in this book. It's like when you know when your best friend didn't told you what happened to her, but you still get it and understand why she act like that.
The words used are very easy to understand, the construction and each paragraph, it was simple, I can't find the complexity. However that doesn't mean it lacked in narrating the ambiance of each scene. Like I said, I felt like I was there, I wasn't going to say that if the writing wasn't good.
My favorite part is how strong and tight their friendship is. I know they aren't a real person, but I wish they were. It was an incredibly realistic tough friendship. In the contrary, it's not all butterflies, rainbows, and flowers. It was a rough path for them, there are conflicts, yes, but they still stood onto each other side.
This book values love and friendship, and what does a 14-year old kid would think about this situation. It was entertaining to read, and surprising on how that kid would do everything just for his friend.
The moment of doubts, the regrets, the self-blaming, the confidence, the hope; it is packed of emotions and actions. Just perfect.
Totally recommended whoever and whatever you are.
But it wasn't.
Yet I loved it.
I remembered clearly on how I obediently finished all of the things I needed to do just to be free and have time to read this. A total page-turner! The suspense is sincere, the fear with excitement just rose into my chest like I was really there, one of the characters facing the problem.
I never read the first book but I am able to understand the glimpses of scenes where they reminisced on what happened. I was not confused by it, just pure curiosity enveloping me. It didn't changed the plot much but it actually affects the attitude of the character, which wasn't a problem since I already got to know each one of them in this book. It's like when you know when your best friend didn't told you what happened to her, but you still get it and understand why she act like that.
The words used are very easy to understand, the construction and each paragraph, it was simple, I can't find the complexity. However that doesn't mean it lacked in narrating the ambiance of each scene. Like I said, I felt like I was there, I wasn't going to say that if the writing wasn't good.
My favorite part is how strong and tight their friendship is. I know they aren't a real person, but I wish they were. It was an incredibly realistic tough friendship. In the contrary, it's not all butterflies, rainbows, and flowers. It was a rough path for them, there are conflicts, yes, but they still stood onto each other side.
This book values love and friendship, and what does a 14-year old kid would think about this situation. It was entertaining to read, and surprising on how that kid would do everything just for his friend.
The moment of doubts, the regrets, the self-blaming, the confidence, the hope; it is packed of emotions and actions. Just perfect.
Totally recommended whoever and whatever you are.
November 27, 2019
As loyal as ever, Cooper is not about to give up on his cousin and friend Gordy. This, the second book in the series, has the three friends - Cooper, Gordy and Hero - joined by Lunk. Lunk has never known an earthly father's love nor real friendship. He is constantly amazed by the love and loyalty between the original three friends and also their dads.
Suspenseful from the start, the four middle school kids are out one evening when they see a backpack on the top of a mini van. Wanting to alert the driver, they start racing on their bikes. Gordy gets there first but alas it is all a trick. The three other friends watch in horror as Gordy finds himself face to face with a taser and loaded into the back of the vehicle and taken away. Where does the van go? It seemingly just disappears! No one can locate it. Cooper feels bad as he messes up the license plate details. Not only that, he egged Gordy on to get to the van first so feels guilty that it was not him taken.
Hiro has an idea that maybe the kidnapper is a sex offender. The kids are surprised to find that there are 7 such folks living in their vicinity. Whilst some of them are obviously not guilty what happens when the boys take it into their heads to investigate one they are suspicious of by planting evidence? BIG lesson learned.
The reader gets to "hear" from Gordy during this trial as well as the kidnapper. Hero guesses the perpetrator, the same one as I figured out a couple of chapters earlier but are we right?!
WARNING: This book is NOT suitable for young children. It is graphic in places and also very scary which could cause nightmares. I would say this was more for older teenagers. I enjoyed it as an adult. Yes, this is Christian based but it is not preachy. VERY clean with NO bad language.
I purchased this book in the set of 3. I was not required to write a review but chose to do so. Thanks, Liz
Suspenseful from the start, the four middle school kids are out one evening when they see a backpack on the top of a mini van. Wanting to alert the driver, they start racing on their bikes. Gordy gets there first but alas it is all a trick. The three other friends watch in horror as Gordy finds himself face to face with a taser and loaded into the back of the vehicle and taken away. Where does the van go? It seemingly just disappears! No one can locate it. Cooper feels bad as he messes up the license plate details. Not only that, he egged Gordy on to get to the van first so feels guilty that it was not him taken.
Hiro has an idea that maybe the kidnapper is a sex offender. The kids are surprised to find that there are 7 such folks living in their vicinity. Whilst some of them are obviously not guilty what happens when the boys take it into their heads to investigate one they are suspicious of by planting evidence? BIG lesson learned.
The reader gets to "hear" from Gordy during this trial as well as the kidnapper. Hero guesses the perpetrator, the same one as I figured out a couple of chapters earlier but are we right?!
WARNING: This book is NOT suitable for young children. It is graphic in places and also very scary which could cause nightmares. I would say this was more for older teenagers. I enjoyed it as an adult. Yes, this is Christian based but it is not preachy. VERY clean with NO bad language.
I purchased this book in the set of 3. I was not required to write a review but chose to do so. Thanks, Liz
November 26, 2022
Okay- goodness. I'm crying
This was the first book I read in the Code of Silence trilogy. Yes, I read the second book first. But no, I didn't realize there was a first book.
This book has a lot of emotional weight to it. It deals with a kidnapping, and the kids who witnessed it. It's emotionally intense, and tear-jerking.
One topic that I found interesting is guilt, which is something all of us can relate to, and how it motivates us. Our protagonist was dealing with guilt as he felt he could have stopped the kidnapping of his cousin. It motivated him in the wrong way, and he soon realized this wasn't the right kind of motivator.
The other characters in the story had great development too, especially Lunk.
Honestly, I don't really have any more words to describe how amazing this book is.
This was the first book I read in the Code of Silence trilogy. Yes, I read the second book first. But no, I didn't realize there was a first book.
This book has a lot of emotional weight to it. It deals with a kidnapping, and the kids who witnessed it. It's emotionally intense, and tear-jerking.
One topic that I found interesting is guilt, which is something all of us can relate to, and how it motivates us. Our protagonist was dealing with guilt as he felt he could have stopped the kidnapping of his cousin. It motivated him in the wrong way, and he soon realized this wasn't the right kind of motivator.
The other characters in the story had great development too, especially Lunk.
Honestly, I don't really have any more words to describe how amazing this book is.
August 1, 2024
IMPORTANT
This book series is probably my favorite book series I've ever read. I am definitely into mystery and thriller so if you are into that too you would really like this book.
The story plot actually starts on chapter 1 instead of starting on like chapter 20! Which I really like that it starts soon so I'm really in love on the 1st page.
😀😘
I really hope you give this series a try it is so worth it!
To be honest the last book of the series Book 3 doesn't really get really good until like chapter 10 but at the end of the book it is so good!
When you read this series you think you know what happens at the end but there is a twist on every single ending!😍😁
This book series is probably my favorite book series I've ever read. I am definitely into mystery and thriller so if you are into that too you would really like this book.
The story plot actually starts on chapter 1 instead of starting on like chapter 20! Which I really like that it starts soon so I'm really in love on the 1st page.
😀😘
I really hope you give this series a try it is so worth it!
To be honest the last book of the series Book 3 doesn't really get really good until like chapter 10 but at the end of the book it is so good!
When you read this series you think you know what happens at the end but there is a twist on every single ending!😍😁
February 9, 2025
Great mystery type Christian read for teens! Not the type of Christian book where it's not "real" but you can tell through the teens in this book they have a deep trust in God, and still question why things are happening the way they are.
Was reading this for a library review. This book does talk about sex offenders, the teens look up sec offenders in their area to see if any of them have kidnapped their friend. I'm still not sure if this one could go in an elementary library as a grade 7/8 read but mature readers could handle this one!! Sometimes I wonder if we challenge kids enough with more challenging reads, even with heavy topics!
Was reading this for a library review. This book does talk about sex offenders, the teens look up sec offenders in their area to see if any of them have kidnapped their friend. I'm still not sure if this one could go in an elementary library as a grade 7/8 read but mature readers could handle this one!! Sometimes I wonder if we challenge kids enough with more challenging reads, even with heavy topics!
March 31, 2018
I loved this book so much, I couldn't put it down!! you will like it if you enjoy suspense, mystery. One thing I liked about it is that there's no romance in any of the books in the series. I personally find romance to be distracting from the plot, but the author replaces what could have been romantic subplots with character developement. Definitely read the rest of the series to add to your reading experience! The book is scary, but it's not really gory, if there are parents reading.
Recommended age: +10
Recommended age: +10
September 5, 2018
Really hooking read! I could not put it down. This is the second book in a series but it can be read as a standalone, it gives you the background information you need. However, I definitely recommend reading the first book as well. This book, however, was SO GOOD!! It's a pretty easy read for me but it is engaging, suspenseful, and has just the right amount of comic relief. I will warn you though, it is kind of dark. Amazing!!!!
June 5, 2017
From my son, Jeremy: I am an eleven year old boy who thought the book Back Before Dark was awesome. There were many funny parts. I liked the characters because they were smart, funny and taught me to be a good friend. The book was exciting as well as cool and suspenseful.
February 27, 2017
Great Story, Suspenseful, but way too long.
December 18, 2017
Goodreads recommended this book based upon my history so I started reading it. It is a book for young teenagers or preteens. Horrible recommendation by Goodreads for an adult reader.
May 29, 2018
Good BoOk
October 3, 2019
It is a great book and is very interesting. It slowly progress to a great ending.
March 27, 2020
A good young adult read.
Zero blush factor. Hiro intrigued me, I can see her as a stand alone character able to carry the theme of true friendship and a strong moral code.
Zero blush factor. Hiro intrigued me, I can see her as a stand alone character able to carry the theme of true friendship and a strong moral code.
May 10, 2020
Very interesting and action-packed for teens for present-day dangers.
August 31, 2020
I really enjoyed this book though I read it in 6th grade. I would read again.
September 16, 2020
This book is kinda scary but super good. It's the second book in the Code of Silence Series.
February 16, 2021
A young adult book. Unrealistic ending.
June 22, 2022
Okay, this is good. Perhaps not the mind-blowingly good. But the readably good. Probably one of the books that I would recommend to a 12-year-old who is just starting to read actual books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews